They are the only Braves who’ve started every game this season, and Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons were also two of the team’s three hottest hitters (along with Kelly Johnson) entering a weekend series against the division-rival Nationals.
Freeman bounced back from a 1-for-18, five-game mini-slump to hit .465 (20-for-43) with eight doubles, one homer, 10 runs, nine RBIs and a .721 slugging percentage in his past 11 games before Friday night’s series opener at Nationals Park. The Braves had a 1-4 record during his mini-slump April 21-25, and were 5-6 since.
The big first baseman had taken it up another notch lately, going 9-for-16 (.563) with four extra-base hits and seven RBIs in the past four games, including three Braves wins.
“I’ve been feeling good at the plate, and it’s nice to be able to string some hits together,” said Freeman, who had seven multi-hit games in his past 11. “Hopefully that will continue in D.C.”
Simmons has had one of the best hitting stretches of his career. The two-time Gold Glove shortstop hit .316 (24-for-76) in the past 20 games before Friday with eight extra-base hits (two homers), 17 runs, 10 RBIs, eight walks and only three strikeouts, posting a .395 OBP and .487 slugging percentage.
“This is the longest I’ve seen him stay with an approach,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, “and I think you have to give a lot of credit to (hitting coaches) Kevin (Seitzer) and Jose (Castro) for staying on him. And also Andrelton — you’ve got to give the player a lot of credit. His approach, being consistent, I think this is the longest I’ve seen in his career.”
Before Friday, Simmons was batting .476 with 10 hits and a .577 OBP during a six-game hitting streak to start the month, and was 9-for-17 (.529) in his past five games with three doubles, a triple, a homer and nine runs.
Asked about Gonzalez’s statement that it was the longest he’d seen the shortstop keep a sound approach, Simmons smiled and said, “I don’t want to say that, because whenever you say that, that’s when things go south. But I’ve been feeling pretty good, and I’m just trying to keep that same feeling every day.”
He’s relished hitting in the No. 2 hole between Nick Markakis and Freeman since Gonzalez made that his top-of-the-order trio two weeks ago.
“You’ve got guys who are always on base or always drive you in, so you’re always scoring runs or you have a chance to drive a guy in,” Simmons said. “It’s always nice hitting behind Nick, and when I get on base I’m ready to run when Freddie’s up.”
Gonzalez has often said that whatever offense the Braves get from Simmons is gravy because his defense is so good that it doesn’t matter. But it does matter, and Gonzalez and the Braves have been waiting and hoping that Simmons would make strides on offense.
“You’ve got to score runs to win games,” Simmons said, “so being able to contribute (offense), it’s a big deal for me.”
